Boot Won't Open!

When trying to open the boot of my Chim, the solenoid works fine, the boot pops up, but as soon as the button is released the boot drops straight back down onto the latch and locks again. Cue several 'amusing' attempts to run back and forth between the button and the boot lid before it drops shut again!

Is there an easy fix for this, or do I need to start looking for new latches - does anyone know what car they're from?

My boot simply releases, without drama. It doesn't 'launch' and return again. It simply undoes. I then walk to the rear of the car and lift it up. Sounds like some adjustment of the catch is needed to reduce the trigger effect on release.

Certainly sounds like it, though the fact that it opens violently enough that it can 'slam' shut again certainly isn't right, at least not in my experience.There should be a gentle click, and the boot lid is left sitting on the latch, without first launching into space.

As a side note, while it may be necessary to slam the doors to close them, the boot lid (and more obviously the bonnet), should never be slammed. Just place the boot lid / bonnet on the latch, and give it a gentle push down (applying pressure directly over the latch in both cases) until it clicks/locks. Everything will last a lot longer.(TBH, not a bad policy on any car you own. I have closed all my cars bonnets and boot lids lke this since acquiring the Chimaera)

Looks like two small issues BillC99 Pozzy.The gas strut(s) are readily available, and have a look at what is making your boot lid launch itself.

Thanks chaps, but this is now a bit academic - about 30 minutes after typing the OP, there were bits of crank case and at least one pushrod all over the road (not to mention oil!) So looks like the boot not opening is the least of my worries!

Thanks for the sympathy gents. To be honest, because it's so terminal I'm pretty accepting of it - if it was something that was imminently repairable but pretty expensive then I think I'd be more miffed

One thing that I will be quite interested to find out is how on earth a pushrod ended up banana-shaped and coming out near the starter motor. The only way I can see that one could make its way down there is if the camshaft had disappeared! Or am I barking up the wrong tree?

I guess only time will tell once I get a chance to whip the sump off and have a closer look...